Setting out for the Saint Giles leper colony outside Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael has more pressing matters on his mind than the grand wedding coming to his abbey. Yet as fate would have it, Cadfael arrives at Saint Giles just as the nuptial party passes the colony’s gates. He sees the fragile bride, looking like a prisoner between her two stern guardians, and the bridegroom—an arrogant, fleshy aristocrat old enough to be her grandfather—and he quickly discerns that this union may be more damned than blessed.

Indeed, a savage murder will interrupt the May-December marriage and leave Brother Cadfael with a dark, terrible mystery to solve. The key to the killing—and a secret—is hidden among the lepers of Saint Giles. Now, Brother Cadfael’s skills must ferret out a sickness not of the body, but of a twisted soul.

Quotes & Awards

“There’s grey matter under that tonsure and oodles of scholarly medieval info to be gleaned.”

Observer

“Successful and gripping…Once again Ellis Peters has combined a proper, carefully plotted detective story with a carefully detailed, convincing evocation of medieval life.”

Times Literary Supplement (London)

“Cunningly contrived with a great sense of period detail.”

Yorkshire Post

Listener Opinions

Lemar | 2/13/2014

" The historical setting is pitch perfect and the mystery is of its time while the motives that drive the characters remain timeless. In addition the prose is laced with beautiful passages of true literary accomplishment. "

Susan | 2/6/2014

" I have read enough of Brother Cadfael to know I will work to be more like him. "

Hazel | 2/1/2014

" These books keep getting better. I really must find the ones I don't have copies of. "

Maggie | 1/26/2014

" Very moving ending. Was a wonderful book. "

Sandra Strange | 1/24/2014

" These suspenseful stories include pinches of romance, devotion, and humor, as well as truly unique characters. The mysteries use as background superb portrayals of 12th Century England. The author is a noted Medieval scholar. Positive. Caution: the series is aimed at adults, not adolescents. Many themes of these mystery novels are ADULT themes, including rape, abuse of various sorts, etc. They are all positive, ultimately. "

April | 1/19/2014

" I read this one out of order... "

Meredith | 12/28/2013

" Absolutely delightful. A perfect mix of plot and character - with lives of faith, gentle as a brook, running throughout. "

Marlene | 12/20/2013

" This was a true mystery! I really enjoyed it. "

Meghan | 12/6/2013

" One of my favourites so far of the Brother Cadfael mysteries. Cadfael and the abbot, in particular, are written as characters who have such calm, good, judgment, that they make for very enjoyable reading of their view on situations and personal interactions. "

Cat | 11/22/2013

" I love the characters in this book. I'm not sure I love the love story, however. "

Potter Masre | 11/18/2013

" Another good one, although none so far are nearly as good as One Corpse Too Many "

Cindi | 11/13/2013

" Great read, as always, Peters never disappoints! I love how the characters seem to come alive! "

Frode | 10/26/2013

" Another very good story with a twist at the end. Interesting characters and good plot development although the killer became evident, to me at least, fairly early on. Most enjoyable. "

Evy Bernier | 7/5/2013

" A bit predictable for a mystery but I love the characters and that kept me reading it. "

TJ | 3/12/2013

" Fun and quick read. Interesting social commentary on the role of women of the time "

Peter | 12/8/2012

" Another good one, although none so far are nearly as good as One Corpse Too Many "

Hazel | 4/17/2012

" The Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters is a wonderful set of mysteries that take place in 12th century England. Ellis Peters does a wonderful job of describing all the characters and she is a great mystery writer. The cases are complicated enough to make them interesting. "

Alice | 2/7/2012

" The solution to this one was easy to reach, but I enjoyed the journey with the good brother, as usual. "

Emily | 8/22/2011

" A fun well-written mystery set in the Middle Ages and solved by a monk! "

Beka | 6/24/2011

" A very interesting Cadfael chronicle. I particularly liked the insight into a satellite ministry of the monastery. "

Jill | 3/29/2011

" One of my favorite Brother Cadfael mysteries! I absolutely love Brothers Cadfael Mark, and wish they lived next door so we could swap gardening tips!
"

Picklefactory | 3/27/2011

" One of my favorites of the series.
"

Katie | 1/23/2011

" Another great volume in the Brother Cadfael series. Ellis Peters demonstrates the classic mystery writing style of dropping clues and making the reader feel as though they are making the discoveries along with the characters. I enjoyed the little twist at the end too.
"

Mary | 12/18/2010

" This was a good one - good, simple story; good characters.
"

La Chipie | 11/25/2010

" Ouhou, il est terriblement sombre celui-là aussi.
"

amy | 10/11/2010

" Original title for U.S. release (1981): Leapers, Lepers & Love Affairs. Overly whimsical, confusing; did not sell.
"

Alice | 7/14/2010

" The solution to this one was easy to reach, but I enjoyed the journey with the good brother, as usual.
"

Cat | 4/11/2010

" I love the characters in this book. I'm not sure I love the love story, however.
"

Brent | 3/7/2010

" Another good one, although none so far are nearly as good as One Corpse Too Many
"

Vicki | 1/13/2010

" It was very interesting reading about the leper hospital. What a terrible disease. The young lovers in this book seem to have been in more peril than in other of the Cadfael books, but it's comforting to know all will be well by the end of the book.
"

Other Titles by Ellis Peters:

About the Author

Ellis Peters (1913–1995) was the pen name of English novelist Edith Pargeter, author of scores of books under her own name. She was a recipient of the Silver Dagger Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, conferred by the Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain, as well as the coveted Edgar, awarded by the Mystery Writers of America.

About the Narrator

Johanna Ward (a.k.a. Kate Reading) is an Audie Award–winning narrator and has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine. She is also a theater actor in the Washington, DC, area and has been a member of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 1987. Her work onstage has been recognized by the Helen Hayes Awards Society, among others. She and her husband live in Hyattsville, Maryland, with their two children.

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